Match Report: Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United

Manchester United came from behind to draw 1-1 with West Ham United in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final.

This had the feeling of a proper cup tie, with both sides looking for the win, in an end-to-end contest at Old Trafford.

Dimitri Payet’s exquisite free-kick opened the scoring midway through the second half, but Anthony Martial’s late equaliser ensures a replay at the Boleyn Ground next month.

An early corner was headed over by Marouane Fellaini, with Andy Carroll’s through ball at the other end latched onto by Emmanuel Emenike, who stroked his shot just wide.

Returning to the line-up after his midweek European suspension, Jesse Lingard cut inside from the right but his left-footed attempt fell wide without troubling.

A promising move by West Ham led to Emenike having his header held by David De Gea, as Ander Herrera’s volley from a deep Martial cross was deflected wide, only for no corner to be awarded.

The best move of the half saw Fellaini find Marcos Rojo, who played a neat give-and-go with Martial, before the Argentine’s pull-back was fired too high over the bar by Herrera.

After the break and Herrera saw a tame free-kick held, before his shot struck the arm of Reid, but the ball hit the leg of the defender first, with referee Martin Atkinson correct to not award a penalty.

He did likewise at the other end after Payet went down under the challenge of Rojo, but did award a free-kick after Payet was nudged over by Daley Blind, and it was from this resulting dead-ball situation that Payet’s strike went in off the inside of the post despite being nearly 30 yards from goal.

Cresswell superbly blocked from Herrera but five minutes later, it was Herrera’s deep cross that was tapped in at the back post by Martial to get United back on level terms.

Former Hammer Michael Carrick drilled an effort just wide, with De Gea’s low save to deny Michail Antonio leading to a succession of West Ham corners in stoppage time, which United dealt with well, as full-time arrived in a hardly-fought tie.

It was entertaining and a fair result emerged on the day, with Louis van Gaal’s side having their name in Monday’s semi-final draw, albeit the replay away from home will be a tough ask if progression is to be made.

The return leg of the Europa League Round of 16 takes place this Thursday at Old Trafford, where United hope to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Liverpool, with an 8:05pm kick-off on what will also be St. Patrick’s Day.